Optimizing Printer Performance | 5 |
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If you find that it is necessary to increase your available memory, you can do one of the following:
•Increase the amount of available memory by using the Memory Reset portion of the Test and Service menu. See “Resetting the Memory on Your Printer” in Chapter 6 for more information.
•Delete any unneeded
•Purchase additional memory. Please contact your Intermec representative for information on purchasing additional memory for the printer.
Increasing Throughput
To print labels as quickly as possible, you must adjust the print speed in conjunction with the number of image bands [one image band equals 2.54 centimeters (1 inch) of label]. The print speed and image band settings determine the rate at which the printer processes the images of your labels. This rate in turn affects the throughput of the entire printing process.
The printer begins imaging the label as soon as it receives the command to select a format. Since the printer starts imaging the label so early, the chance that the imaging process will be unable to keep up with the print speed decreases and throughput improves. However, if the number of image bands is too low, the imaging process is unable to keep up with the print speed. In this case, the printer stops printing and starts again at the lowest print speed with the maximum number of image bands. If the image band command is set too high, the printer spends more time than necessary imaging and slows down label production.
What Is an Image Band?
Image bands are a section of memory where a picture of a label format is drawn. This drawing process is known as imaging. Once the picture is imaged, the printer loads the picture from the image bands to the printhead for printing. Each image band is equal to
2.54centimeters (1 inch) of length of the label format. The number of image bands you use may be less than the length of the label you are printing. The number of image bands (in inches) does not have to equal the length of the label since the printer recycles the image bands. Once the contents of an image band have been printed, it may be reused to image the next section of the label.
Keep in mind that the more complex the label, the longer it will take to image each section, thus requiring a slower print speed. To use a higher print speed, use more image bands to allow more of the imaging process to complete before printing begins.
How the Image Bands Command Works
The image bands command controls the amount of memory allotted to the imaging process. When you increase the image band adjustment to a higher number, you add more buffers to the imaging memory. By doing this, more of the label format is imaged before printing begins.
